Trek
CrossRip
- 2014

Details

If you're searching for one bike to do it all, look no further than than Trek's CrossRip. This machine loves long rides on the road, cruising along dirt roads, commutes in the city and even down-n-dirty cross racing. Its light aluminum frame is lively, fast and ridiculously fun to ride. Shimano gives you an 24-speed drivetrain with triple cranks up front that are perfect for the steepest hills. And since you have fender and rack mounts as well, you'll have some off season and gear-hauling capacity.

Picked one up a few months ago. Was looking for a good commuter, weekend rider, and what I really want to try out, a little touring. Was poking around the actual touring bikes, but they seemed heavy and what's with the bar end shifters?? I stumbled across this bike and wha?? I was looking for disc brakes (ya, a no-no for a road bike. Yeah sure) and liked the mid handlebar extra brake levers (actually use them. Mainly for stopping on a hill, like at a light). I also wanted the rack mounts AND the fender support (another no-no for roadies, well, in SoCal anyway). Also the bike is, how would I say it, VERY pretty. The matte black and internal cables and the red anodized aluminum touches...like I said, pretty.
I loaded the bike up with a rear rack, paniers and some removable fenders (it WILL rain someday where I may be touring!)
I am a social, stop and smell the roses kind of rider, and I really love this bike! (Soon will be doing a one night, bike overnight - tent, sleeping bag, mat, stove, etc. A first of many I hope.)
Oh yeah, don't mind the shifters. Like the thumb switch! So what that they are low end, thing shifts when I want it to!
Funny I had to special order it. SoCal riders apparantly like to wear spandex and go FAST! (Uhm as you guessed it, I do neither!)

This is a great bike for anyone would like a quick road bike that's not afraid of gravel. I have a 32km roundtrip daily commute during the week but on the weekends I enjoy singletrack / trail riding. This bike enjoys both. I especially like the laid back geometry of the frame, the head & top tube have a relaxed rake which makes the bike feel very stable, unlike most road bikes that I find feel nervous in the front end.
The component spec is entry level but if you keep on top of the adjustments there is no problem. I will probably upgrade to BB7 calipers, the BB5's have limited adjustability. Some reviews have bashed the button / lever shifters but I don't have a problem with it.
For what I need, the CrossRip makes it happen.